by Checking in on a handful of the PGA Tour’s best players a quarter of the way into the season.
Scottie Scheffler
Temperature check: Crispy on the outside, warm in the center.
Scottie is fine. He seems irritated and looks a little charred on the outside – there were a few quick outbursts at the Players and some short exchanges with the press. But if this is his floor, then what are we talking about? He’s come right out of an injury, played in all the strongest events, made every cut, and finished in every top 25. That’s hot, good golf! He’s fourth on PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Total! The expectations, either internally or from the outside, might be out of whack following the last year. He looked pissed playing in the wind, getting some unexpected bounces, kicks, and breaks. It’s fine. I am not indulging any of this when there are stars playing actual poor golf. – Brendan Porath
Rory McIlroy
Temperature check: Blue flames.
The best golfer in the world in the first quarter of 2025, even without his absolute best golf played so far. – Brendan Porath
Xander Schauffele
Temperature check: Preheating.
Another player, like Scottie, who is completely fine. He got blown out to sea on the weekend at TPC Sawgrass with a 77-81 but it would be very stupid to overreact to that. He’s not where he was at the end of last year. The only cause for concern would be his injury persisting in some nagging fashion but there is little in his numbers to be alarmed about or hop off the Xander train as we hit the majors season. We just need more samples and we’ll get that at the Valspar. – Brendan Porath
Collin Morikawa
Temperature check: Red hot.
He might not “owe anyone anything,” but Collin Morikawa is arguably the best non-Rory golfer in the world right now. The kerfuffle last week about talking to the press was somewhat of an own goal and also overblown on both sides. But he remains firing on all cylinders, playing maybe the best, most consistent golf of his career. He is second on the PGA Tour in SG: Total and leads the entire Tour in SG: Approach, which is right where he needs to be. The haters might say he needs to chase more speed but it is hard to argue with the record he’s putting up. If you think that means he’ll just remain winless and post a bunch of top fives, fine. That seems unlikely. Morikawa is red hot. – Brendan Porath
Max Homa
Temperature check: Frozen.
Almost exactly one month ago, I wrote some words about the state of both Max Homa’s mental game and golf game. The former seemed as strong as ever, the latter in desperate need of some help. He has missed both cuts in the events he’s played since, and while recent performances haven’t improved my feelings on the state of Homa, they haven’t really hurt either. Bay Hill and TPC Sawgrass aren’t exactly the places you expect to find your game. Still, as we look toward the summer, things are about to get real for Homa’s schedule. He very well could miss out on automatically qualifying for the U.S. Open and Open Championship through the Official World Golf Ranking. So while the temperature check is ice cold, I’m not quite putting Homa on life support. His spirits are high, and he continues to say the right things in the media. But if he doesn’t see a turnaround by the PGA Championship in May, the panic meter is going to kick on mighty quickly. – Will Knights
Justin Thomas
Temperature check: Searing in the pan.
Driver has been a weapon for Justin Thomas in the past, but this year it’s what’s holding him back. After an abysmal 2022-23 season, Thomas battled back last year and has been trending once again so far in 2025. In seven starts, he has three top-10 finishes, including a runner-up at the American Express. Thomas is 16th in SG: Total, but he’s 111th off the tee (and ranks 109th in driving accuracy and 118th in scrambling accuracy).
If he can figure out the big stick for major season, look out. Thomas has a solid overall history at Augusta National (despite missed cuts the last two seasons), he won the PGA Championship the last time it was held at Quail Hollow in 2017, finished 32nd at the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont, and 11th at the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush. Sure, he’s a different player today than he was at those previous majors, but course familiarity matters. Pair that with some solid form and JT could be hoisting a third major trophy this year. – Adam Woodard
Viktor Hovland
Temperature check: Suffering hypothermia
You know that Sopranos episode, Pine Barrens, where they get lost in the woods and are shivering on the verge of freezing to death? Hovland is lost in the woods searching for a direction out and some warmth – not a good situation right now! – Brendan Porath
Bryson DeChambeau
Temperature check: Lukewarm.
Nearly 25% of the way into 2025, the most newsworthy thing Bryson DeChambeau has done this year is his YouTube video with a fan making an ace over his house. I don’t really think that’s up for debate. He’s put up pedestrian results on LIV and has otherwise been rather quiet. And yet, you’d be a fool to overlook the beefy five-layer boyritto as we head into major season. His Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee numbers are in line and while his approach play doesn’t look good so far, he very well may just be kicking it into high gear. And while I do not take stock in blasé LIV finishes, my opinion would certainly be more pessimistic if he were putting up really bad performances. A more accurate way to temperature check Bryson may be my excitement level to watch him play tournaments with meaning. That enthusiasm is still there, even if it’s strictly for the content. – Will Knights
The Fireballs
Temperature check: They’re hot, naturally.
Three LIV wins in a row! Sergio Garcia trending for the Masters! – Brendan Porath
Jordan Spieth
Temperature check: Room temperature
Still, unfortunately, Just a Guy. – Adam Woodard
This piece originally appeared in the Fried Egg Golf newsletter. Subscribe for free and receive golf news and insight every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
